Will Alonso replace Webber at Red Bull?
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What happens to Webber if he gets the axe because of Alonso? |
It is rumored that Alonso, the double world champion who has split with McLaren after a tumultuous 2007 season, is in talks with the energy drink-owned team, despite both Webber and teammate David Coulthard having contracts for next year.
Coulthard, 36, insists that his particular agreement with the Milton Keynes based outfit is so specific that it says "I have to drive the car in any F1 event it is entered for".
"I know that this is not always the case with younger drivers," the Scot added.
Speaking with the Australian newspaper Canberra Times, 31-year-old Webber admitted that he is not sure if his contract also contains this clause.
"I haven't gone through my contract in that sort of detail but I'm pretty sure I'll be driving there," he said.
"David is obviously looking at it a bit more than I am," Webber, who left Australia on Monday to test at Jerez next week, added.
11/19/07 (GMM) Mark Webber has rubbished rumors that Fernando Alonso could be set to trigger his departure from the Red Bull team ahead of the 2008 season.
McLaren refugee Alonso is yet to commit to a team for next year, and despite both Webber and teammate David Coulthard having secure contracts for 2008, it was reported at the weekend that talks between the Spaniard and Red Bull are still going on.
It is also speculated that if Alonso does switch to Red Bull, Flavio Briatore-managed Webber, who is 31, would be a candidate to line up for Renault.
But the Australian, in his home country at present for the annual Mark Webber Challenge, told the Queanbeyan Age newspaper that he is a firm starter for Red Bull in 2008.
"I'll be driving at Red Bull next year," Webber insisted.
"It will be nice to be in the hunt next year, and if we can start the season the way we finished it we will be doing well.
"We need to try and get some bullet-proof reliability in our car and just focus on some of the basics," Webber, who retired from seven of the 17 races in 2007, added.
Despite the poor reliability, however, Webber thinks he drove well this season.
"Personally I was very happy with how I drove, and even though it didn't reflect on the scoreboard, I was pleased with the progress our team made this year.
"But no one likes to be involved in cars struggling with reliability — it's very frustrating," he said.